Wire-gate fastener.



Patented June 27, 1911.

DAVID E. RYCKMAN, OF POLLOCK, SOUTH DAKOTA.

WIRE-GATE FASTENER.

assess.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 4, 1909.

Patented June 27, 1911. Serial No. 516,176.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID ELRYOKMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pollock, in the county of Campbell and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ire- Gate Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gate fasteners, and more particularly to fasteners for frameless wire gates, and has particularly for its object the formation of a fastener comprising a minimum number of parts adapted to be manufactured from bar material.

Another important object is to provide a device which may be operated with'equal facility from both sides of a gate.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and it will be understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims and that any suitable materials may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a side view of the device disposed upon a gate post and having a gate engaged therewith, Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device in disengaged position, Fig.3 is a detail of the base member of the latch, Fig. 4 is a top view of the devlce.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a gate post 10 carrying at its upper end a base member 11 of the present latch upon which there is pivoted an angular lever 12 carrying a link hook 13 adapted for engagement with the uprights 14 of a frameless wire gate B. The base member 11 is formed integrally from one piece of flat metal, and is bent to provide right angled attaching portions 15 and 16 the first being vertical and the second horizontally disposed upon the top of the post 10. Suitable perforations are made in the portions 15 and 16 for the reception of fastening members of any desirable nature. The outer end portion of the horizontal portion 16 is bent upwardly at right angles thereto and given a quarter twist to bring it into a vertical plane extending longitudinally of the portion 16.. A perforation is formed at its upper end in which there. is engaged a suitable pintle or rivet carrying the operating lever 12. Thelever 12 is formed of a single piece of sheet metal, and comprises an operating portion 18 and a fulcrumed portion 19, extending at an angle to the portion 18. A series of openings 20 are formed in the portion 19 being spaced longitudinally thereof, and receiving pivotally therein the hook member 13 which is formed of bar iron as shown.

The device is intended to be operated by the engagement of the hook member 13 with the upright of the gate B, and the oscillation of the lever 12 oppositely therefrom to draw the hook over the post 10 and hold the gate securely in such position. It will be noted that the portion 19 of the lever is approximately the same length as the portion 11 of the base member, so that when the latch is in a fastened position the arm 18 is disposed with its base adjacent the junction of the portions 15 and 16, and inwardly thereof, the portion 19 being inclined downwardly from its pivot point to the top of the post 10, the handle portion 18 extending vertically in close spaced relation with the post oppositely of the gate. Itwill thus be seen that when the gate B is engaged by the hook 13 the latch will be automatically held securely in latched position by the tension of the gate applied inwardly of the pivotal point of the operating lever.

By referring particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings it will be seen that when the device is in a locked position the angular lever 12 will be arranged with its angular portion in contact with the right angular connecting portion of the base plate 16, whereby the operating end 18 of said lever will be brought into direct and binding contact with the depending attaching portions 15 of said base member.

By the construction shown, but three primary parts are required to complete the latch, and it is liable in a minimum degree to'damage by stock or otherwise.

There is shown in the construction of the latch a supplementary link member 25 engaged with the pivot member of the lever 12 on the opposite side of the upwardly extending portion of the base member 11. The link is coengaged with the portion 18 of the lever inwardly of the pivot and serves to reinforce the pivotal connection of the lever with the support.

It will be understood that the form of the hook 13 may be varied, so that it may be either engaged with the upright 14 directly, or with a ring or eye member carried thereby, this being a mechanical variation of construction which it is not deemed essential to show,

I i f What is claimed is:

V "In combination with the upper end of fence post, a right angular base member Jsecured thereto and having downwardly and upwardly projecting ends, an angular operating lever having a short and long arm, the end of the short arm being pivotend of the base member and having openin'g's formed therein, ahooked member, one

and of which is adjustable within any one of; the openings formed in the short arm of the lever; the opposite end of said hooked member being adapted for removable en a gagement with a gate, and a reinforcing supplemental link member, one end of which is also movably secured to the upwardly projecting end of the base member and which has its opposite end movably secured to said operating lever, whereby when the operating lever is in a locked position the long arm thereof will be in contact with the entire length of the downwardly projecting portion of the base memher, the said long arm of the lever extending a suitable distance below the base member when in this position, whereby a space is formed between the lever and post, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my sigma time, in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID E. RYGKMAN.

Witnesses:

J O. RosiiiNDAriL.

' v cpies'o'r this patent may be obtained for five: cents each; by addfe'ssixig" c'oinmissianer at iatehts,

Washington; I). c.

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